1. Stages of Child Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget
Stages of Child Cognitive Development

2. Piaget’s Background Piaget saw children as “budding scientists”
Originally worked on standardization of IQ test
He was intrigued by the children’s incorrect responses
Identified stages of thinking that children go through as they develop

3. An important part of our thinking involves:
Schemas = concepts or “mental molds” into which we pour our experiences
Assimilation = taking in new information and plugging it into our existing schemas
Accommodation = adjusting / modifying our schemas to fit the details of our new experiences

4. What is your schema of a cat?
Small and furry
Short pointy ears
Long tail
Cute and cuddly
What other information might you
assimilate into your schema?
Claws
“meow”
Purr

5. If you saw these animals and were told that they are also cats, how would you modify your schema to accommodate the new experience?

6. Because of schemas, assimilation, and accommodation, you have developed clear categories or concepts.

7. Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

8. SENSORIMOTOR STAGE Birth – 2 years Behavioral Characteristics:
Lack of language
Separation anxiety
Exploration of the environment
Coordinating senses with motor activity
Object permanence NOT apparent until later in this stage
Language as the primary means of communication marks the end of this stage

9. Separation Anxiety Object Permanence

10. PREOPERATIONAL STAGE 2-7 years Behavioral Characteristics:
Object permanence fully developed
Lack of conservation skills
“magical” thinking

11. Lack of conservation skills
How old are children in the preoperational level?
How might you demonstrate a lack of conservation using volume?
What does it mean that preoperational children are “seduced by appearances”?

12. Egocentrism – Thinking Centered on Self
Sample Question
Typical Answer
Why does it get dark at night?
So I can go to sleep.
Why is the grass green?
Because that’s my favorite color.
Why is there snow?
For me to play in.
Why does the sun shine?
To keep me warm.

13. With a Partner
Give an example of egocentrism in preoperational children. Then share with your partner a time when you recently experienced Egocentrism yourself.

14. Animism – Attributing Life to Inanimate Objects
Sample Question
Typical Answer
Why do trees have leaves?
To keep them warm.
Why do stars twinkle?
Because they are happy.
Where do boats go at night?
They sleep like we do.
Why does the sun move in the sky?
To follow children and hear what they say.

15. Artificialism – Assuming that natural events have been fashioned by people
Sample Question
Typical Answer
What makes it rain?
Someone turned the water hose on.
Why is the sky blue?
My mommy painted it that way.
What causes thunder?
The angels are bowling.

16. CONCRETE OPERATIONS STAGE
7-11 years
Behavioral Characteristics:
Conservation skills
Reversibility
Decentering
Hands-on activities necessary for thinking

17. Concrete Reversibility

18. Examples of Hands-On Activities

19. FORMAL OPERATIONS STAGE
11 years and over
Behavioral Characteristics
Mental trial and error
Hypothetical analysis
Logical Thinking
Use of abstract reasoning

20. Deductive Reasoning
What stage are each of the children in?
What were the reasons they gave for their answers?

21. What are the criticisms of Piaget?
Some people never reach the formal operation stage of thinking
People reach these stages at different ages
Some scientists give children more credit for their ability to think than Piaget did
Most scientists agree that Piaget’s work is still worthy of studying.

22. The End 

23. Piaget’s Cog. Theory Project
Directions:
Divide your poster paper into 4 sections
Each section should have a label; Sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, Concrete operational stage and Formal operational stage.
Create a drawing in each section that depicts a child representing that developmental stage.
Use your book and notes to help you.
Be creative: use markers, crayons and colored pencils.
We will present these posters in class, so be ready to explain your drawings and how they represent each stage.
Each member in your group must participate for full credit.
Total possible marks 25 (5 for each stage and 5 for overall)